Switch box



Nov. 5, 19 29. E. G. APPLETON SWITCH BOX Filed March 16, 1928 Ira/671151- ulppleton Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNST G. APPLE'I'ON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROACH-APPLETON MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, 01 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SWITCH BOX Application filed March 16, 1928. Serial No. 262,158.

The present invention relates to switch boxes.

More particularly the present invention relates to boxes for containing switching 5 mechanism, such for example as the ordinary push button switch used in house wiring circuits. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the structure shown in the United States Letters Patent to Thayer 1 #982,193.

An object of the present invention is to rovide an im roved switch box adapted to be secured to t e studding or a similar device as ordinarily provided in house building 15 which switch box is adapted to support the lath which must be interrupted when said switch box is mounted in place.

A further objects is to provide an improved switch box which is sturdy in construction and which may be manufactured at a minimum ex ense.

A furt er object is to provide an improved switch box which may be made up of a minimum number of parts, which parts may be metal stampings, and which is well adapted for a commercial production on a large scale.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring' to the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing two parts of the illustrated embodiment of the invention separated from one another;

Fi re 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane 3-3 of Figure 1; and

F1 ure 4 is a sectional view taken along the planes indicated by the arrows 44, Figure 3.

The improved switch box, which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 10, comprises three ma'or parts indicated by the numerals 11, 12 an 13. The part 11 of the switch box comprises a sheet metal member bent into a plurality of planes. One part 14 of the memer 11 comprises a general y flat portion, tines 1515 being downwardly struck therefrom and plaster keys 16-16 being upwardly struck therefrom. At one extremity of the part 14 is the part 17 disposed in angular relationship with the part 14, said angularly disposed part 17 being located on the same side of the part 14 as are the plaster keys 1616. At the inner extremit of the part 17 is the part 18 disposed in su stantially right angular relationship with the part 14. Said part 18 forms one wall of the switch box 10. At the lower extremity of the part 18 is the part 19, which is disposed in a lane substantially parallel with the plane 0 the part 14. The outer edge of the part 19, which lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the part 18, has fingers 2020 struck up there from, the outer extremities of which fingers extend in a direction substantially parallel with the part 19. Part 19 comprises the bot tom wall of the switch box 10.

The major member 12 of the switch box comprises a sheet metal member bent in substantially .U-form, the bottom of which U- form is comprised by the part 21, having the slots 21A21A adapted to receive the extrimities of the fingers -20. The two legs of the member 12 of U-form are comprised by the arts 2222. Extending outwardly of the rec edges 2222 are fingers 23-23, the extremities of which fingers are disposed in planes disposed slightly inwardly of the parts 22-22. Said fingers 2323 are adapted to be inserted into slots 24.-24 in the part 18. 4

The third major member 13 of the switch box 10 comprises a lath support made up of sheet metal of relatively light gauge, said lath support 13 having tongues 2525 struck from the bottom wall 26 thereof, said tongues being adapted to enter corresponding slots in the part 21 of the major member 12 and to be riveted over', whereby the lath support 13 is rigidly secured to the part 21.

Fi ure 3 shows the part 14 of the major mem er 11 secured to a wall stud 27. Said figure also shows a lath 28 disposed within the lath support 13. It will be clear that the lath support 13 will be so disposed relative to the part 14 that the inner faces of the lath su ported by the lath support 13 will be in su stantially the same plane as the outer face of the wall stud 27. Moreover, the part 14 will be so disposed relative to the front edge of the box that when said part 14 is secured to a wall stud, said front edge of the box will lie substantially in the plane of the plaster covering the lath 28. Expressed in other language, the lath support 13 will be so located relative to the part 14 that the interrupted lath supported by the member 13 will be held in their normal planes, and the member 14 will be so disposed that the inner face thereof is displaced from the outer or front edge of the switch box 10 a distance substantially equal to the usual thickness of lath and plaster. The usual knock-outs are indicated y the numerals 2929.

The assembling of the switch box above described is very simple. The lath supporting member 13 may be secured to the major member 12 in a preliminary operation, the fingers 2525 being riveted over into rigid holding relationship with the part 21 of said major member 12. The major members 11 and 12 are applied to one another in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2, either with a straight line or a rocking movement. As said major members 11 and 12 are moved together, the fingers 2323 extending from the members 22-22 will locate themselves within the slots 24-24 in the member 18. The fingers 202O extending from the member 19 will locate themselves within the slots 21A21A in the member 21. Figure 3 shows the major members 11, 12 and 13 in assembled relationship with one another, the fingers 23 being indicated in dotted lines in the positions they assume before being bent over upon the outer face of the part 18. After said parts 2323 are bent or riveted over, major members 11 and 12 will be rigidly secured to one another, a straight withdrawal of the member 12 from the member 11 being impossible due to the riveted over fingers 23-23 and withdrawing of the member 12 from the member 11 by a rocking movement being impossible by reason of the engaging of fingers 2020 within the slots 21A-21A.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intendedto cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch box comprising two major members, one of said major members comprising two plane portions in right angular relationship with one another comprising a side wall and the bottom wall of said switch box and a third portion extending from the top of said side wall intermediate of the length of said side wall and including a plane part extending in right angular relationship with said side wall, the other of said major members comprising a U-shaped member having portions riveted over said side wall and having a portion interfitting with said bottom wall.

2. A switch box comprising two major members, one of said major members comprising two plane portions in right angular relationship with one another comprising a side wall and a bottom wall of said switch box, and a third portion extending from the top of said side wall and including a plane part extending intermediate of the length of said side wall in right angular relationship with said side wall, said bottom wall being provided with fingers, the other of said major members comprising a U-shaped member, the legs of said U-shaped member being provided with fingers having riveted relationshi with said side wall, the bottom of said U- aped member having slots for receiving said fingers of said bottom wall.

3. In a switch box, in combination, a pair of major members, one of said major members comprising two portions in right angular relationship with one another com prising a side Wall and the bottom wall of said switch box and a stud engaging portion extending from the top of said side wall intermediate of the length of said side wall integral with said other portions, said stud engaging portion including a lane part displaced from the front edge of said side wall a distance substantially equal to the normal thickness of lath and plaster, the second of said major members being a U-shaped member, the bottom of which U-shaped member comprises the other side wall of said switch box and the two legs of which U- shaped member comprise the two end walls, said two major members having interfitting portions for holding same in rigid relationship with one another.

4. A switch box comprising two major members, one of said major members comprising two plane portions in right angular relationship with one another comprising a side wall and the bottom wall of sald switch box, and a third plane portion in right angular relationship with said side wall and extending from the top of said side wall intermediate of the length of said side wall, said third plane portion being displaced from the face of said box a substantial amount, the other of said major members comprising a U-shaped member adapted to interfit with the side wall and bottom wall of said first major member to form three other walls of said switch box.

51A switch box comprising two major members, one of said major members comprising two plane portions in right angular relationship with one another comprising a side wall and the bottom wall of said switch third plane portion being displaced from the face of said box a substantial amount,

the other of said major members comprising a U-shaped member adap ed to interfit with the side wall and bottom wall of said first major member to form three other walls of said switch box, said major members having cooperating fingers and slots, said fingers being adaptedto be riveted over to hold said major members in rigid relationship with one another.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of March, 1928.

ERNST G. APPLETON. 

